BOROUGH OF POOLE
LOCAL ECONOMY OVERVIEW GROUP
11th SEPTEMBER 2006
TOWN CENTRE NORTH AREA ACTION PLAN – CONSULTATION ON PREFERRED OPTIONS
1.Matter for Consideration
1.1Consultation on Preferred Options for the regeneration of the Town Centre North Area (TCN AAP).
2.Recommendation
2.2That LEOG endorse the attached Preferred Options document for statutory consultation between 13th October and 24th November 2006 and recommend that Cabinet and Full Council approve this document for consultation.
2.3That LEOG endorses officers to make any necessary minor amendments, insertion of artist’s impressions and other images (currently being prepared) and changes to document layout prior to presentation to of the full document to Cabinet on 19th September.
2.4To supports the portfolio holder in approval of the following:
- Executive Summary Leaflet: A very brief (ideally 2 sides of A3) leaflet to summarise the options and set out the vision statement in the main document as well as delivery principles and timetable. Main text to be lifted directly from the attached Preferred Options Document.
- The script for a 5 minute summary DVD of the preferred options for distribution and uploading on the Council’s web site.
3.Background
3.1Members will recall 6 ‘Initial Options’ for the regeneration of the area to the east of the Dolphin Shopping Centre (Kingland Road area) and the Sainsbury’s site were consulted on between 20th April to 1st June. All options assumed significant levels of new retail floorspace within this part of the town centre, but included various amounts of other uses such as residential, cafes and leisure uses – a cinema being common in all options. All options were prepared with a view to meeting the emerging vision:
- Improving the town centre’s retail offer
- Improving Vitality
- Improving Access and Movement
- Providing a Quality Public Realm
3.2Public response was generally positive and feedback was reported to TCBAG and LEOG members on 19th July. Members were also advised on the Sustainability Appraisal and commercial assessments of the Initial Options.
4.What has influenced this Draft Preferred Options Document?
Consultation Responses to Initial Options:
4.1Strategic Planning Services has made a significant effort to seek the views and aspirations of the public and key partners in the town centre including Grosvenor Estates, Sainsbury’s, Grosvenor Shopping Centre Fund, Bus Company, Lighthouse, Poole Partnership among others. Town Centre Management Board etc… It is an important requirement of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act that this is done. Officers believe that this process has produced a consensus around the Area Action Plan’s major aims as set out above. The process of involving the public and other agencies early should help to reduce the time and costs associated with the Public Examination into the AAP set for Spring 2008.
4.2Key themes emerging through the consultation is the need to encourage a major department store and significant retail growth, but also to ensure that development enables the Lighthouse, Library, Swimming Poole and and local leisure facilities to better integrate with the town. Agencies and the public are signed up to achieving a more vibrant town centre through mixed use development, seeing a direct ‘24/7’ always open route between the north and south of the town centre as critical to the town’s overall economic success.
4.3It is a requirement through the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act that the AAP must demonstrate how it contributes to the wider aims of the Poole Partnership and other relevant organisations. Appendix C of the Preferred Options Document sets out how the AAP’s main objectives contribute to Poole Partnership’s Vision and reference is made throughout the document to how the AAP can help deliver the aspirations of others such as Bournemouth University who would welcome the opportunity for the area to deliver student accommodation or the Sub-Region’s Economic Development Strategy (‘Raising the Game’).
Sustainability Appraisal
4.4It is a requirement of government and EU Directive 2001/42/EC that the effects of new development plans have a strategic level environmental assessment to identify its likely environmental, economic and social impacts, both good and bad. This is a technical background document and must be prepared to be issued alongside the Area Action Plan Preferred Options Document. A summary of how the Sustainability Appraisal of the Initial Options influenced the Preferred Options is set out in Appendix A of this report. In essence, whilst the Initial Options AAP document (May 2006) would demonstrably contribute to economic regeneration goals, there was a need to set out how it would overcome localised traffic impacts and wider impacts on climate change. The Preferred Options document has responded to this by placing a much stronger emphasis on the need for on-site renewable energy generation and providing Highways Sub-Options.
Commercial Testing
4.5Drivers Jonas were appointed by the Council, as local planning authority, to provide a critique of the Initial Options and the emerging Preferred Options. AAPs must focus on deliverability and ensure that the land use mix set and arrangement of uses are capable of being delivered. Their advice has helped ensure that the Preferred Option presented in Chapter 4 of the Document is attractive to investors and capable of delivery.
5.How will the consultation be undertaken?
5.1The consultation period is between 13th October and 24th November 2006. The attached Preferred Options document will be the main document that people will be expected to comment on. To aid the consultation process, a leaflet summary of this document will be prepared, for which officers would like Portfolio Holder endorsement. Similarly a short 5 minute DVD is being prepared to illustrate the issues facing the area, how the Council has involved the community and the Preferred Option and Highways Sub-Options. The film will be presented by Sally Taylor from BBC South Today. Again, Portfolio Holder endorsement is sought for the script for this film.
5.2The Options Document and consultation film will be uploaded onto the consultation area of boroughofpoole.com and it is hoped that online forms will be available. The document will be made available in paper format from the Civic centre & Libraries and be distributed to people and organisations that have expressed an interest in this action plan. A walkabout tour of the area is planned for November as well as an exhibition in the Dolphin Centre between 6th to 12th November.
6.Legal / Financial Implications to the Council
6.10There are significant financial and legal implications associated with the preparation and implementation of this AAP. This process is being undertaken by the Council as Local Planning Authority. Ultimately the masterplan and policies established in this AAP will have impacts on residual land values in the area, including land owned by the Council. Compulsory Purchase and other measures will have significant financial and legal implications. The Regeneration Manager is currently undertaking a full corporate risk analysis to identify risks early on. The results of this should be available in the coming weeks. Legal Services and Financial Services have been forwarded this report in recognition of this. Both service units are also represented on the Officer Task Group which deals with the town centre north area.
DAVID RALPH
Head of Strategic Planning Services
Background Documents
Draft Preferred Options Document - Attached
Town Centre North Initial Options Document, April 2006 – Members’ Rooms
Sustainability Appraisal of Initial Options, June 2006 – Members’ Rooms
Initial Options – Public Consultation Responses
or visit Town Centre North area of
If you have any queries on this report, please contact
Bill Richardson, Strategic Planning Services, on 01202 633298
Appendix A – Sustainability Appraisal of Initial Options – Key findings and influence this appraisal had on Preferred Options Document.
Appendix B – Draft Preferred Options Document
“TO FOLLOW”